HONOLULU – The Hawaii State Department of Health (DOH) reached a settlement agreement yesterday with the Haleiwa Beach House restaurant for a violation of the terms of the Administrative Order on Consent (AOC) signed by both parties on June 7, 2016. The restaurant has agreed to pay a $5,000 fine for relocating five chairs from the bar area to the dining area, altering the seating arrangement stipulated in the AOC.

“The department will continue to conduct on site follow-up inspections at the restaurant to ensure it complies with the order and maintains public health standards,” said Stuart Yamada, Environmental Management Division Chief. “Any further violations will result in immediate closure of the facility and penalty fines.”

During an inspection conducted by DOH on June 14, 2016 it was discovered that the seating configuration in place at that time was inconsistent with the one approved for use under the AOC. The approved configuration is meant to ensure that the restaurant’s wastewater system can accommodate the anticipated wastewater produced from normal restaurant activities.

Both parties signed a First Amended Administrative Order of Consent (FAAOC) yesterday as part of a settlement allowing the restaurant to operate with a seating capacity of 83 dining seats and 31 bar stools. DOH has also confirmed the removal from the restaurant of any additional seats. The FAAOC states that the next violation will result in immediate suspension of the establishment’s permit and a stipulated penalty of $25,000.